The Nanotubes for the Composites Market report is the most comprehensive global study ever undertaken of the market and technology impact of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) for the composite materials sector. The report details both the performance improvements that nanotubes will have and are already beginning to demonstrate, as well as pricing and production dynamics over the next five years.
Nanotubes for the Composites Market report separates the hype from the reality and answers key questions such as :
- What composite materials will make use of carbon nanotubes, and when?
- What market share will carbon nanotubes gain from carbon fiber, when, and for which applications?
- When will carbon nanotubes deliver the much needed price drops to compete with carbon black?
- There is no shortage of CNT suppliers, so why are nanotubes so expensive, and when will the price come down?
Where is the nanotube market?
While the tensile strength of nanotubes have produced much speculation about their use as structural materials, near term applications are concentrated on conducting composites for the aerospace, automotive and electronics industries.
This report draws on Cientifica’s unparalleled insight into the carbon nanotubes industry, and highlights the opportunities, the applications and the technical barriers still to be overcome.
Structural Composites
- Nanotubes will compete with carbon fibers, kevlar, stainless steel fibers and nanoparticles once current market barriers have been overcome.
- Use of nanotubes provides high tensile strength and elasticity, reduced blackening and reduces filler loads by over 75%
- Nanotubes are not currently competitive on a cost/performance basis with conventional materials but but will be in certain applications - we provide current and future price data for nanotubes, with market entry points indicated.
Conducting Composites
- The use of nanotubes as filler material can enable a 90% reduction in loading compared with carbon fibers, while not affecting polymer flexibility or viscosity and avoiding deformation and shrinkage.
- Current volume applications in the automotive industry include anti-static and ESD (Electro Static Discharge) materials in fuel lines, filters, pumps and tanks and electrostatic painting applications.
- Applications in the electronics industry range from hard disk platter support to packaging and electromagnetic shielding.
- Nanotubes are improving processability by use of CNTs in thin moulding.
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